BIRMINGHAM, England: Dwain Chambers won the 100m at the British Olympic trials on Saturday, but now faces an anxious wait for a High Court decision over whether or not he can run at the Beijing Games.
British sprinter Dwain Chambers reacts after winning the final of the 100 metres during the British Olympic trials in Birmingham, central England, July 12, 2008. Chambers, who completed a two-year ban in 2006, will find out next Wednesday if he is eligible to compete at the Beijing Olympics after a date was set for his legal challenge to the British Olympic Association's (BOA) life ban for drugs cheats. [Agencies] |
Chambers, who served a two-year doping ban, is fighting a British Olympic Association (BOA) lifetime ban for drug cheats and a court decision is expected on Wednesday as his lawyers attempt to get the rule overturned.
The 30-year-old did his part on the track by winning the final on Saturday in a time of 10.00 seconds ahead of Simeon Williamson and Craig Pickering.
"It was hard work. I've done my part and I just have to hope things go well next week," said Chambers, who served a ban for testing positive for THG.
"I tried to keep my head clear. I feared I would mess up so I had to keep cool. Now I have to wait. I will try to keep my spirits high and hope that this good performance will work in my favor.
"I have had great support from the public. I just want to do well for my country in Beijing.
"When Simeon went away so well I just had to keep cool and I am so happy to have won."
The British squad for the Games will be named on Monday but UK Athletics may delay naming its 100m team until after the High Court ruling.
Pickering made his thoughts quite clear.
"I respect Dwain as an athlete," said Pickering. "But he's done bad things."
Williamson was happy to have booked his place to China with a time of 10.03 sec.
"It's great that I will be competing. There was a lot of pressure here - this was not just a backstreet meet, it was the Olympic trials."
Chambers has had a colourful career since his return from the two-year ban, which was imposed in 2003.
He represented Great Britain at the 2006 European Championships, where he helped the sprint repay squad to 4x100m gold.
After a brief spell playing American football in Europe, Chambers made a second comeback in 2008, winning the 60m trials for the World Indoor Championships.
UK Athletics selected Chambers for the championships in Valencia, where he won a silver medal.
He then spent a month in rugby league on trial with Castleford before returning to the track in May.
